Just having gone through a stroke recently with about 6 TIAs (warnings which i didn't understand) over a 2 year period, I know your anxiety. The tests are simple and not painful. A CT Scan to see if there is any bleeding in the brain and an MRI, which looks for blood clots and blockages in the small arteries in the brain. The procedures are non-invasive, takes a few minutes while lying on a table with a machine getting detailed images of your brain. From what you are saying, please have this checked out as soon as possible. If t is determined that you are having TIAs don't let it get worse. There are early treatments that can preclude a serious Stroke.

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

Taking aspirin is good. How is your LDL cholesterol? If you are not on a Statin medicine (to lower LDL), you should talk to your doctor. It could help reduce plaque build-up in the small blood vessels in the brain. I hope all goes well for you.

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

I'm not sure what my cholesterol levels are right now. I do have them checked every 6 months as I also have Diabetes 2. I think they must be okay as my doctor told me all my last tests which were last month, all came back good.

I take Simvastatin every night and have been taking them for roughly 6 years now, I'm on 40mgs.

G’day Moosie12,
Hope you are keeping well and are in good spirits. Mate worrying about the “BIG ONE “is not going help your cause the slightest bit, now that coming from the biggest worry wort this side of God’s green grass.
I suffered a clot in the brain stem on the 18/10/2010. I was fit as a fiddle, normal blood pressure and cholesterol. The doctors think stress was a major contributor to the stroke happening.
For about six years I carried all this worry and stress around with me 24/7. The pressure was enormous. Guess what nothing has changed, all my problems are still very real. It took me having stroke to realise that worrying just makes you sick.
I’m trying so hard to change my mind set, to the point that I’m not continually obsessing about my problem 24/7.
As far as your physical problem, adhere to the advice of your doctors, keep as fit as possible, and drink plenty of water. Hope you keep in touch ,and all the very best mate.
George

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

I had 3 TIA's before the stroke, my brother had many more. His TIA's never showed up on all the tests he was given. He was even hospitalized and given all medications. The strokes followed anyway. Sorry to share this. He remains my daily sorrow.

So, in my head it points to stress, to taking charge of your life, to eating well, to exercising, to daily meditation, to staying calm and stress free. Aspirin is excellent. Now I'm not suggesting not to follow doctor's advice, etc. But, in my mind, we need to face stress head on and try and take control of our life as best as possible.

The good news is that I've had no further TIA's or strokes in almost 2 years. Stay optimistic, take aspirin, and wishing you the very best. It is wonderful to be able to come here and share our experiences. Thank you for sharing yours.

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

Moosie, if we can help prevent any further problems for you, it is a dream come true. It is what I wanted so desperately for my brother.

Looking back, what should I have done when those TIA's first presented themselves? Here is what I'd say:

. Make sure to keep BP in check. Monitor it every day. Good cholesterol.
. Eat healthy, maintain good weight.
. Exercise daily, some form that you can enjoy.
. Meditate daily.
. Avoid stress like the plague.
. Take aspirin (check with your doctor).
. Drink as many fluids as you can tolerate. Stay hydrated.

Maybe, maybe we can preserve your and our precious brain and body.

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

Hello Moosie12 and welcome. You have meet some of our finest on the board and received some great advice. Its good that you have come here because everyone on the stroke board is well educated in stroke and know how you are feeling.
I agree with Tina none of the tests are painful or scarry. But they are awesome to find out why you had the tia's. Many times TIA's are a warning for like George said "Life style change"but Im glad your going to be seen through the a stroke clinic.
I had 2 strokes just over 2 years ago and I have had all the tests. Only problem is they never found out why. 2 doctors said it was the medication I was on but when I think about it I was also under a tremendous amount of stress. Since my stroke I am very educated in the damaging factors of stress and now realize the importance of learning how to deal with our stress.
Yoga and meditaion along with exercise, proper food and laughter are all good ingredience for better living and better health.
So TIA's can be a good thing if you take them as a warning and journey towards prevention of stroke. It is a journey many of us wished we had travelled. I had no warning and my first stroke I couldnt get my dr. to listen to me when I tried to explain something was wrong. Not until the second stroke when I couldnt walk anymore did they sit up and take notice. So pre-warnings are a good thing.
I wish you lots of luck and please keep posting and let us know how your making out.
God Bless Mulchie

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Moosie12 (10-27-2012)

I'm still yet to get a proper diagnoses, but the doctors that I've spoken too do seem to think TIA's. If it's not, then I'll have more worry, cos something is clearly not right with me.

One thing I'm interested in finding out is my GP told me that people normally get the numbness down one side?? I've had 2 attacks where the whole of my tongue and both lips on both sides went completely numb...would this sound like a TIA???

Before those 2 attacks, I had another 2 in the summer, where my head just went completely weird, felt like I was kind of "floating away" but I never lost consciousness, I couldn't focus, eyes went weird, then I got double vision, I was seeing an object and seeing another one right above it?? If I shut one eye the double vision would clear but if I had both eyes open I'd get double again. Those attacks lasted about 10 minutes.

What's worrying me more, is that 2 mornings ago I woke up and found that my whole left side doesn't somehow feel right?? It's not completely numb and I can move my limbs ok, no speech problems but that side of me feels kind of semi not with it.

My concentration is just the pits, I have to really think hard about what I'm doing, I'm finding typing this a challenge.

I'm so sorry that you had a stroke, I find the TIA's scary so can't imagine what a stroke would be like, but probably terrifying.

Thank you so much for your advice and useful information

Best wishes

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goingtorun (10-28-2012)

G’day Moosie12,
How it all going mate, hang in there.
Mate I learnt really early in my journey to stroke recovery, that no two strokes are the same. You can’t play the comparison game, I know it’s hard not to.
I remember almost all my visitors, whilst I was in hospital, had stories of people who suffered strokes and where back to their normal selves in a couple of weeks, or even days etc. etc. This was great for those individuals, but they were not me.
In those early days of suffering a stroke I was searching for answers every which way, from anyone that would listen to my problems. I would listen with an immeasurable appetite. There is no “normally” when it comes to strokes
After a while I resolved to listen to my doctors as far as medication was concerned, and just rely on my own metal as far as physical theopathy side went.
I hope I haven’t confused you.
All the very best mate. Keep in touch.
George…

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Moosie12 (10-28-2012)

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Moosie12 (10-28-2012)

Moosie, if your left side cleared up it was a TIA. They will clear up within 24 hours and leave no trace. So I've read and experienced.

Mulchie, I wonder whether you had lasting damage from your first incident. Estrogen has been implicated, but in my mind stress is worse.

What is clear is that stroke is a major mystery even to the professionals. As George says, no two strokes are the same and what we observe, learn, experience and do ourselves is as good or better than anything else.

Now my stroke was very similar to my brother's first stroke. Since neither hospitalizations, nor rehabs, nor all the doctoring helped him, I turned complete contrarian. Of course, we each must do what we think is best for ourselves.

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Moosie12 (10-28-2012)

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Moosie12 (10-28-2012)